For over three decades, architect Jim Norton has shaped Huntsville’s landscape with nearly 1,000 projects blending creativity and craftsmanship. From custom homes to commercial spaces, his designs reflect a deep connection to the community and a passion for timeless architecture. Dive into the world of design as we learn more about his background and expertise.
When did your interest in architecture begin?
As a young boy I liked to draw trains on sheets of paper and them tape them all together, and I enjoyed building cities for my hot wheels. My parents recognized this and always said I should be an artist or an architect. Looking back that was when I realized there was a feeling of satisfaction in creating and organizing things.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I would say my inspiration mostly comes from styles of the past. The Prairie Style, Craftsman Style, Art Moderne and The International Style all strived to change the way we lived and worked. Each of these offer a wealth of avenues to pursue. Each embraced color which is lacking in today's grey and brown architecture. I like color.
Favorite era of architecture and design?
I like the designs of the 1950s and 1960s. This was an exciting time for architecture and design in general. Suburbia had come into its own and shed the traditional home styles for more modern and rethought ways of living. The Brady Bunch house is a great example. Icons like Hollywood's Capitol Records Building, New York's Pan Am Building and The Fransworth House steered architecture in a new direction.
It's there a project that you've worked on that sticks out as the most interesting or challenging?
I designed a house once that included a network of secret passageways, an underground tunnel from the main house to the pool house, a walk in china cabinet and hallways wide enough for golf carts. That was an interesting design that I enjoyed creating.
What do you see for the future trends of architecture?
Architecture is like fashion..ever evolving. When I graduated architecture school we were trained in Post Modernism. This was a bold and playful style of architecture perfect for the 1980s. I like to point out the design of fast food buildings. What once possessed an inviting and festive hut-like imagery has changed into a sterile, impersonal place that tends to bore the imagination. Now, we have evolved into a simplified movement which encourages lines and shapes arranged into a building. My hope is the next trend in architecture will depart from the simple massing of buildings and return to the detail and complexity of years prior.